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5 Day Explore Wellington and Marlborough Tour

5 days from Wellington to Wellington

Experience Wellington's unique cosmopolitan vibe with a highlights tour of the city. Get your fantasy on when you visit Weta Workshop, home of Lord of the Rings, and see native New Zealand birds at Zealandia. Cruise the Marlborough Sounds before taking in this stunning region over a glass of world renowned wine.

Day 1 - Arrive into Wellington tonight enjoy a tour of Weta Studios and a 3 course dinner

Private transfer Wellington airport to hotel

You will be met on arrival into Wellington airport and transferred to your hotel.

An Evening with Weta and Coco

Movie magic and fine food awaits. You will journey from the Wellington CBD to Weta Studio Tours for an extended Weta Cave Workshop Tour. Afterwards, you'll head to CoCo at the Roxy for a delicious three-course meal, concluding with a night drive back to central Wellington. Bring your appetite for film and food!

Your accommodation: Bolton Hotel Wellington

The Bolton Hotel is a contemporary apartment hotel in the heart of Wellington's CBD. This hotel has 142 guest rooms and suites are furnished in a contemporary style and feature Sky Digital television, movies on demand, high-speed Internet (including WiFi), a personal bar, and air-conditioning.

Day 2 - A morning tour of Wellington and then visit Zelandia

City Highlights Inspiration Half Day Tour

Enjoy an intimate small group tour looking at the unique aspects of the World's Coolest Little Capital. Drive through Courtenay Place and Oriental Parade and head up Mt Victoria for spectacular views of the City and Harbour. Then travel the stunning rugged coastline, now a marine reserve, stopping along the way to taste some famous Wellington coffee. Return to the central city for a drive through the quirky Cuba Street district and along Lambton Quay, the main shopping street for a chance to ride the famous Wellington Cable Car.

Zealandia Karori Sanctuary

Welcome to the world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary - a conservation success and safe haven for some of New Zealand's rarest native animals. Remarkable species of birds, reptiles, insects and more are living wild within a beautiful 225ha (one square mile) valley - just 10 minutes from central Wellington. Around 40 native and endemic species of birds can be found at Zealandia. Kākā - the playful forest parrots - have made an impressive comeback to the area and are lots of fun to watch at their supplementary feeder stations. Endangered hihi (stitchbird), tīeke (saddleback), kākāriki and kiwi are flourishing here and the pair of critically threatened takahē are often seen at the wetlands. Zealandia provides routes for everyone from wheelchair-users to all-day trampers. You can choose from various fascinating guided tours and feeding talks (all free with admission), or simply roam at your leisure to find the valley's remarkable native wildlife living free. The scenic cafe Rata, is a great place refreshments before or after your walk. Zealandia is open every day except Christmas Day from 10am to 5pm, last entry is at 4pm. You can catch the free shuttle from various Wellington locations including outside the i-SITE and Te Papa.

Your accommodation: Bolton Hotel Wellington

The Bolton Hotel is a contemporary apartment hotel in the heart of Wellington's CBD. This hotel has 142 guest rooms and suites are furnished in a contemporary style and feature Sky Digital television, movies on demand, high-speed Internet (including WiFi), a personal bar, and air-conditioning.

Day 3 - A morning cruise across Cook Straight before heading into the Marlborough Sounds

Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton with exclusive access to the Premium Plus Lounge

The 92 km journey between Wellington and Picton takes around 3 hours and has been described as 'one of the most beautiful ferry rides in the world'. Leaving Wellington Harbour you pass many interesting points such as Pencarrow Head on top of which is New Zealand's oldest lighthouse (1859). Red Rocks is home to a seal colony and Oterangi Bay is the site which recorded the country's highest ever wind speed of 268 kph (167 mph). From the Cook Strait, spectacular views of the Kaikoura Ranges on the South Island can be enjoyed and dolphins and many sea birds are often seen.

Around one hour of the cruise takes you through the Marlborough Sounds - and this region of bush covered mountains, small islands, crystal clear waters and secluded bays is a remarkable photographic opportunity. At the end of Queen Charlotte Sound the cruise comes to an end in the picturesque town of Picton.

When you're not out on the deck enjoying the amazing views, you can retreat to the exclusive premium plus lounge which is the most comfortable and relaxing way to travel across the Cook Strait. You'll enjoy complimentary beverages, light snacks, lunch or breakfast, internet access, magazines and newspapers and the most comfortable seating, so you can sit back and enjoy the journey.

Seafood Odyssea Cruise

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Queen Charlotte Sound with seemingly endless bays and coves to explore and different scenery around each corner. Seafood Odyssea Cruise offers a unique range of sightseeing, birdlife, wildlife and a look at Aquaculture (the growing of fresh seafood). Learn about the Marlborough Sounds area, the local seafoods grown and enjoy a fabulous seafood tasting on board matched to stunning Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Your accommodation: Bay of Many Coves Resort

Bay of Many Coves Resort,offers spacious hillside apartments with uninterrupted views from private balconies to the blue waters and native bush clad hills.

Day 4 - Discover the delightful wines of Marlborough on a half day wine tour

Cougar Line Shared Transfer - Marlborough Sounds to Picton

Return to Picton by Cougar Line scheduled water taxi today via the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Stop at a number of pick up/drop off points en route.

Choose from our great range of late model rental cars for your driving holiday

Today you’ll take to the road for your New Zealand Self Drive holiday, so take a look through the great selection of late model vehicles available and take your pick. To help you on your way GPS is included with all rentals.

GPS navigation system

Use the latest GPS technology as you tour New Zealand. Your portable GPS features a simple touch screen interface with automatic route calculation and turn-by-turn voice-prompted directions including street name announcement. The automotive-grade GPS unit is easy to use and has multiple language options.

Picton to Blenheim

Only short 30 minute drive, you’ll follow the valley south to arrive in Blenheim, located in the heart of Marlborough - New Zealand’s largest wine producing region. Go through acres of leafy green vines and marvel at the magnificent ‘dry hills’ of Marlborough in the distance.

Sounds Connection Half Day Wine Tour

An afternoon among the vines! Be immersed in the Marlborough wine country with the Sounds Connection half day wine tour. You'll be collected from your accommodation and taken through three or four hand-picked wineries to taste the award-winning produce this region is known for. You'll also hear about the history of winemaking in Marlborough as well as learning the unique processes each winery goes through. A lunch stop is not included in this tour so we do advise you have something to eat prior to this activity.

Your accommodation: Chateau Marlborough

Chateau Marlborough, Marlborough's premier boutique hotel overlooking Seymour Square Gardens, prides itself on offering guests luxury accommodation with an enviable attention to detail. All just a short walk from Blenheim's town centre.

Very pleasant touring the South Island. It seemed by going clockwise we were in much less traffic. Everything from motels to activities went off as planned. Selection of motels was very good, especially on the first half of the trip, a couple on the second half were a bit worn. Hope to get back to tour the North Island in 2020. Read more

Jenny Morgan and Kristy Jordan, South Island Escape, travelled on 24th January 2019

I’m writing to you from the airport in Auckland on February 14. We’re heading back home to Denver this evening, after truly the best vacation of our lives. Thank you for all your work on our behalf. We couldn’t be happier with New Zealand Self Drive Tours and your work in particular. 100% of the details you arranged for us worked out wonderfully. We loved every place we stayed and every adventure we experienced. Each of your recommendations were fantastic for us. We are thrilled with the 3 weeks we spent in NZ. And so grateful for your help. We will be back. We hope you can keep our records open and active. We anticipate reaching out to you for help again in the future. Now, if you could just help us become New Zealand residents, we would be indebted to you forever :-). God bless you. And thank you very much. Read more

Nick, Mary Beth and Bryan Adams, New Zealand North and South Adventure Holiday, Travelled on 20th January 2019

Fantastic vacation! Amanda D. did a phenomenal job of putting together a terrific itinerary. Details were well organized and easy to follow. We would definitely use NZ Self Driving Tours (and Amanda D.) again should we make another trek to New Zealand! Read more